Osteospermum plant named ‘KLEOE14215’

ABSTRACT

A new  Osteospermum  plant particularly distinguished by medium sized flowers, white ray florets, violet-blue disc florets, and a horizontal spreading growth habit, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Osteospermum ecklonis.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEOE14215’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety ofOsteospermum, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis, andhereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEOE14215’. ‘KLEOE14215’originated from a cross-pollination conducted in March 2007 in MacquarieFields, Australia between the proprietary female Osteospermum variety‘x07.1.1’ (unpatented), and the proprietary male Osteospermum variety‘x07.1.5’ (unpatented).

The seeds from the cross were sown and plants were grown in a greenhousefor evaluation, where an individual plant designated ‘KLEOE14215’ wasselected from the group of plants in July 2008 in Cobbity, NSW,Australia. In September 2008 in Cobbity, NSW, Australia, ‘KLEOE14215’was first vegetatively propagated by vegetative cuttings. ‘KLEOE14215’was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexualpropagation via vegetative cuttings.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Plant Breeder's Rights for ‘KLEOE14215’ were applied for in Europe withthe Community Plant Variety Office on Nov. 21, 2013, Application No.2013/2954; in Switzerland on Dec. 9, 2013, Application No. 13-2921; andin Norway on Jan. 17, 2014, Application No. 1323. ‘KLEOE14215’ has notbeen made publicly available or sold more than one year prior to thefiling date of this application.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

-   -   1. Medium sized flowers;    -   2. White ray florets;    -   3. Violet-blue disc florets; and    -   4. A horizontal spreading growth habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Osteospermum plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotograph which shows the plant's overall plant habit including form,foliage, and flowers. The photograph is of a four-month-old plant grownin a greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany in September 2012. The colorsshown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventionalphotographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘KLEOE14215’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inStuttgart, Germany. Data was collected on six-month-old plant grown in agreenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany in May 2014. Color references are toThe R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London(R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Asteraceae.        -   Botanical.—Osteospermum ecklonis.        -   Common.—Osteospermum.        -   Designation—‘KLEOE14215’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—The proprietary female Osteospermum variety            ‘x07.1.1’ (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—The proprietary male Osteospermum variety            ‘x07.1.5’ (unpatented).-   Plant:    -   -   Form and habit.—Herbaceous perennial but usually cultivated            as an annual.        -   Growth habit.—Horizontal spreading.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching.        -   Height (from top of soil, including inflorescence).—About            10.0 cm.        -   Width (including inflorescences).—About 50.0 cm to 60.0 cm.        -   Propagation.—Vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—14 weeks (in the            spring).        -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—3 weeks (in the spring).        -   Root description.—Freely rooting.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Shape.—Dentiform.        -   Apex.—Obtuse to acute.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Entire to serrate.        -   Immature color.—Upper surface: RHS 143A. Lower surface: RHS            143B.        -   Mature color.—Upper surface: RHS 137A. Lower surface: RHS            137C.        -   Length.—Up to 5.0 cm.        -   Width.—Up to 3.0 cm.        -   Texture and appearance (upper and lower surfaces).—Leathery,            glabrous.        -   Petioles.—Absent.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Venation color (both upper and lower surfaces).—RHS 138B.-   Stems:    -   -   Total number of branches per plant (calculated at the base            of the plant).—About 3 to 5.        -   Length.—Up to 20.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.6 cm.        -   Internode length.—2.0 cm to 3.0 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 144C.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Length.—About 1.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 0.7 cm.        -   Color (at tight bud just before the ray florets unfold).—RHS            143A.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—Single.        -   Blooming habit.—Spring to autumn.        -   Quantity of inflorescences per plant.—15 to 20.        -   Lastingness of the inflorescences on the plant.—About 2            weeks.        -   Fragrance.—Faint.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 7.0 cm.        -   Inflorescence depth.—About 1.0 cm.        -   Disc diameter.—About 1.2 cm.-   Disc floret:    -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—25 to 30.        -   Shape.—Tubular lanceolate.        -   Tube color.—Closed: RHS 101B (outer surface at an immature            state). Mature: RHS 96B (both inner and outer surface).        -   Length.—About 0.5 cm.        -   Diameter (at apex).—About 0.1 cm.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Apex color.—RHS 98A.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Base color.—RHS 155C.        -   Margin.—Entire.-   Ray floret:    -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—About 14.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS NN155D. Lower surface: RHS 76B            with RHS 97A stripes.        -   Length.—About 3.5 cm.        -   Width.—About 0.9 cm.        -   Apex.—Obtuse to acute.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Upper surface: Smooth. Lower surface: Smooth,            shiny.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—3.0 to 4.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.        -   Texture.—Rough, glabrous.        -   Color.—RHS 143B.-   Phyllaries:    -   -   Texture.—Rough, glabrous.        -   Color.—RHS 143A.        -   Arrangement.—Single.        -   Observed quantity per plant.—About 14.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 143A. Lower surface: RHS 143B.        -   Length.—About 1.0 cm.        -   Width.—About 0.15 cm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Upper surface: Rough. Lower surface: Smooth.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Location: On the disc floret. Stamens: Quantity:            Numerous. Shape: Filamentous. Filament length: About 0.5 cm.            Filament diameter: Less than 0.05 cm. Anther: Shape:            Lanceolate. Color: RHS N186B. Length: About 0.2 cm.            Diameter: Less than 0.05 cm. Pollen: Color: RHS 17B. Amount:            Abundant.        -   Gynoecium.—Location: On the base of the ray florets.            Pistils: Number: About 14. Length: About 0.5 cm. Diameter:            Less than 0.05 cm. Stigma: Color: RHS 79A. Shape: Tapering            filamentous. Length: 0.2 cm. Diameter: Less than 0.05 cm.            Style: Color: RHS 83C. Length: 0.2 cm. Diameter: Less than            0.05 cm.-   Fruit and seed set: None observed.-   Disease and pest/insect resistance: No disease and pest/insect    resistance observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEOE14215’ is a distinct variety of Osteospermum and is distinguishedfrom its parents as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Female Parent Male ParentCharacteristic ‘KLEOE14215’ ‘x07.1.1’ ‘x07.1.5’ Habit Horizontalspreading Mounding Mounding Flower size Medium Large Large Diameter ofthe plant 50.0 cm to 60.0 cm 100.0 cm 100.0 cm

‘KLEOE14215’ is most similar to the commercial Osteospermum variety‘KLEOE03106’ (unpatented), also commercially known as FlowerPower™‘White’. Differences between the varieties are described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘KLEOE14215’‘KLEOE03106’ Growth habit Horizontal spreading Upright

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Osteospermum plant designated ‘KLEOE14215’ as shown and described herein. 